Literary Terms Review Middle School & 9 th Grade Terms

Directions Write the word that goes with the definition provided Note! There is no “word bank”, but if you need a hint, look over at our word/ terms wall

1 Repetition of a sound at the beginning of several words in a row, such as “Andy and Albus always argue” is an example of _________________________

2 A comparison of two dissimilar situations in order to show a contrast or make a point is known as a(n) ____________________

3 The person who opposes the main character of the story is known as the _____________________

4 The people reading the story and/or who the story is written for is known as the _____________________

5 A character’s physical, mental and emotional description is all part of his overall _______________________

6 When two characters speak to one another in a story (usually written in quotation marks), the author is using __________________________

7 __________________________________ is a term that refers to several types of literary devices, such as simile, metaphor, personification, etc

8 When a poem has no set meter or rhythm, the poetic form is known as ______________________

9 An extreme example used for emphasis or exaggeration (like yo mamma jokes) is called _________________

10 _____________________(s) are cultural phrases that have a specific meaning for people of that culture but cannot be translated literally (like “It’s raining cats and dogs!”)

11 Vivid description using and evoking all five senses is known as _______________________

12 A comparison of two dissimilar things not using like or as is known as a ______________________

13 Words that sound like their meaning, like “buzz” or “drip” are known as _________________________

14 ____________________________(s) are contradictory phrases like “jumbo shrimp”

15 Giving inanimate objects humanlike abilities or characteristics such as “the phone screamed” is an example of ____________________________

16 The actual events, consisting of a beginning, middle and end, of a story is known as the ____________________

17 The perspective from which a story is told, such as 1 st person, 2 nd person, or 3 rd person, is known as the _________________________

18 The main character of a story is known as the ____________________________

19 A word repeated throughout a story or text for emphasis is known as literary _____________________

20 Two words that have mirrored sounds like “round” and “sound” are words that _________________

21 A set tempo or standard meter of a poem or song is said to have a specific ____________________

22 A comparison of two dissimilar things using like or as is known as a ____________________

23 A physical object in a literary work that has significant meaning and represents something else is known as a __________________

24 The main idea in a literary work is known as the __________________ (our _________________ for the year is Independence)

25 The mood that is set in a literary work (like happy and light or dark and gloomy) is the _______________

26 A(n) ______________________ is a reference to another literary work that is generally famous or well known

27 When a character makes a side comment to the audience (and generally the other characters can’t hear it), it is known as an __________________

28 A(n) ____________________________ text is another name for a coming of age story

29 A(n) _________________ is an overused (and kinda lame) phrase like “only time will tell”

30 The _____________________ of a poem or literary work is it’s deeper or figurative meaning

31 The _____________________ of a poem or literary work is it’s surface or immediate meaning

32 The repetition of a consonant sound at the beginning of several words in a row such as “Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore” is known as _________________________

33 A pair of successive lines of verse that usually have the same rhythm and rhyme scheme are known as a(n) ______________________

34 ______________________ occurs when a poetic line goes continuously over a line break in a poem, but is not meant to have a pause or stop

35 A(n) ______________________ is an alternate phrase that is used to avoid stating an embarrassing or impolite truth (such as “they took a roll in the hay”)

36 Two literary characters that are set up to be polar opposites are called literary _______________(s)

37 The form of measurement used for poetic lines are known as __________________________

38 Shakespeare’s line known for it’s alternating stressed/unstressed pattern and ten syllables is known as _____________________________

39 When something as at an opposition in terms of situational, verbal or dramatic _________________, the thing that is said, done or known is not what actually occurs or is meant

40 When a character on stage speaks a dramatic monologue or cannot be heard by the other characters, it is known as a(n) _______________________

Bonus #1 A thought or belief that is generally known or held about a set of individuals set apart by race, religion, gender, hair color, etc, (ex. “white boys can’t jump” or “blonds are dumb”) is known as a(n) __________________________

Bonus #2 A variation of ____________________(s) are used in poetry to create rhythm and meter; Shakespeare’s line consisted of alternations of this in order to create his famous rhythmic pattern of “da DUM da DUM da DUM”

Ready for the answers?

Tally them up! OK, how did you do? Do you feel that you know these terms better now? If yes, then good! If not, you need to review some more! These terms aren’t going away – you’ll use them your whole high school career, so make sure that you work on them!